Steel Zip targeting back to back Sunshine Coast Cup wins

Trainer Pat Duff has called on a long-standing association with jockey Brad Stewart to help veteran Steel Zip win his second Sunshine Coast Cup, four years after they combined for his first.

The eight-year-old will end a fruitful summer, which reaped three wins and a third in a million dollar race, in Tuesday’s $100,000 Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m).

Jeff Lloyd has been Steel Zip’s jockey through his current campaign but he is suspended.

Duff was quick to call on Stewart who has ridden Steel Zip on many occasions and won four races on the gelding.

“Brad knows him well and actually won the Sunshine Coast Cup on Steel Zip in 2012,” Duff said.

“So their association goes back a good while.

“We have done our usual with Steel Zip since his good third to Buffering in the Magic Millions Plate. He has had plenty of beach work and should be fit enough for the 1400 metres.”

Steel Zip has won $875,000 prize money and victory at the Sunshine Coast would reap $64,000 as he edges towards becoming a $1 million earner.

“A win in the Cup would take him within sight of the million mark. He has been such an honest horse for so long I would love him to join the millionaire’s club,” Duff said.

Stewart has ridden Steel Zip in the Sunshine Coast feature for the past two years and will be reunited with him for the first time since his second on the Rockhampton Newmarket in June.

Melbourne based jockey Daniel Stackhouse will make his first appearance at the Sunshine Coast on Murt the Flirt in the Cup.

Caulfield trainer Brendan McCarthy elected to keep Murt The Flirt in Queensland following his fourth in the Magic Millions Cup in January 9.

Stackhouse takes over from Chris Symons who will remain in Melbourne to ride Whistle Baby in the Listed John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield.

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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